Pats Pulpit
For all intents and purposes, the New England Patriots remain a team in rebuild; they have yet to play a regular season game under head coach Mike Vrabel and are still building their roster’s foundation. However, that does not mean the organization will not be aggressive in its pursuit of talent.
In fact, the Patriots will not even be afraid to part with high draft picks to improve their roster. Executive vice president of player personnel and quasi-general manager Eliot Wolf said so himself during a meeting with reporters ahead of Monday’s training camp practice at Gillette Stadium.
Asked about his team specifically parting ways with first- or second-round draft picks in a trade scenario with the NFL roster cutdown deadline approaching, Wolf said that he will be “doing what’s best for the team.”
“If there’s a player out there that we feel like can help us, and it costs that, then we would consider doing that,” he added.
With NFL teams having to cut their rosters from 90 to 53 players by Tuesday, Aug. 26, the trade market is set to get more active over the next week. Among the players who have generated buzz lately, even with the Patriots not directly mentioned as being involved, are Cincinnati Bengals edge Trey Hendrickson as well as wide receiver Terry McLaurin of the Washington Commanders.
Considering the circumstances, the Patriots pursuing one of them, or any player, could indeed happen. Besides the apparent willingness to swing big, they also have some assets to use in the form of potential trade chips — both draft picks and players — and significant amounts of salary cap space.
“We’re talking to all 31 other teams and trying to do what’s best for us,” Wolf said. “If something presents itself, I think those things are often a lot more complicated than the fans and some others like to make it believe. But if there’s something that we think can help us, we’ll definitely be open to it.”
Since taking over New England’s personnel department following the departure of Bill Belichick in 2024, Wolf has made five trades involving players. All five of them — QB Mac Jones, ED Matthew Judon, ED Joshua Uche, DT Davon Godchaux, QB Joe Milton — were moved from the Patriots to other teams.
